Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of lateritic iron ore deposit at iyuku, etsako west local government area of Edo state, Nigeria

The lateritic iron ore deposit at Iyuku in Etsako West Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria was assayed chemically and mineralogically. The results of the chemical assay obtained are Fe2O3 (48.20 – 55.63%), Al2O3 (12.50 –18.00%), SiO2 (9.48 – 30.71%) CaO (0.36 – 0.41%), MgO (2.51 – 2.60%) moisture (1.21 – 1.77%) and L.O.I (4.08 – 8.35%). The mineralogical analysis indicates the predominant presence of goethite, haematite and halloysite, whereas, gibbsite and anatase were present as minor species.KEY WORDS: laterites, goethite, haematite, halloysite, gibbsite and anatase

Breastfeeding Practices and Growth

Background: Breastfeeding is vital for the growth and development of infants and young children. Early initiation within the half hour of birth fosters optimal breastfeeding practice, promotes growth and development.Objective: To evaluate breastfeeding practices and the growth of infants.Method: This was a crosssectional survey at three immunisation clinics in Asaba metropolis of Delta state. Using a structured questionnaire, we assessed breastfeeding practice of attendees and the growth of babies and documented information on the socio demographic characteristics, breastfeeding practices, previous weights of infants’ and their Anthropometric measurements.Results: There were 97 motherinfant/ pairs. 49 males, 48 females; giving a male to female ratio of 1:1. 20.6% were neonates, 74.2% were less than 6 months while 25.8% were older. About 50% of the mothers initiated breastfeeding within an hour of delivery, 25% of mothers gave pre-lacteal feeds. 49.5% of babies were optimally breastfed; of these, 68.7% mothers had initiated breastfeeding within an hour of birth (p=0.001). Underweight and stunting was only seen among babies of mothers who did not practice optimal breastfeeding. It was observed that babies’ weights were not documented routinely in the road to health chart of the immunization cards after the measurements were taken. This was a missed opportunity for counselling and health promotion.Conclusion: Early initiation of breastfeeding increases the probability of optimal breastfeeding practice and prevents infant malnutrition. Even though growth was assessed, the information was not utilized for feed back to the mothers at the well-baby clinics, growth monitoring and promotion was not supported at the well-baby clinics in the health centres.Keywords: Breastfeeding Initiation, Growt

Comparative Analysis of Custard Produced from Selected Cereals (Guinea Corn, Maize, Rice and Millet)

This study looked at the proximate and organolleptic qualities of custard powder produced from four different cereals (guinea corn, maize, rice and millet). Proximate result ranged between 9.95-14.05%, 1.20-2.78%, 1.10-2.31%, 4.75-5.50%, 7.96-12.88% and 66.49-70.58% for moisture, ash, crude fiber, fat, protein and carbohydrate content respectively. There was significant difference in all the parameters evaluated. Product from guinea corn and Millet compared favourably with the product produced from the conventional cereal (maize). Also, sensory result revealed the preference of consumers for guinea corn and Millet based custard to the conventional primary raw material. The study established the superiority of custard from guinea corn and millet to that produced from maize. Keywords Custard, Maize, Guinea corn, Rice, Mille

Nigeria Local Government: A Discourse on the Theoretical Imperatives in a Governmental System

The need for the creation and existence of local governments in a  governmental system has, over the years, been one of the most frequently discussed issues in public administration studies. Accompanying this  discussion usually is the consideration of the challenges confronting the local governments in the performance of the functions that underscore the imperative for their creation. In this work, we articulated and analyzed in detail, the theoretical imperatives for the creation of local governments in governmental system. This we did under three major schools of thought on the functional relevance of the local governments. These schools of  thought are the democratic participatory school, the efficient-service school and the development school. We further explored and analyzed some of the factors that constitute fundamental challenges to the performance of the expected development roles by the local governments using the  Nigerian Federal system of government as a reference point. In conclusion, we noted that local governments constitute key institutions for enhancing democracy and advancing development particularly at the local or  grassroots level but constrained in the performance of these roles, by inadequate finance, poor political leadership and insufficient autonomy as exemplified in the Nigerian federal system of government.Key words: Local Government, governmental system, developmen

Collections and Collection Development Exercise in Libraries: A Perspective in View

This paper examines what collection is all about and the concept collection development exercise in libraries stating the methods used in actualizing the collection development which are community need assessment, selection, and placing order, receiving/checking. This study also outlines some procedures for acquiring information resources in the collection development department which are: purchase, exchange, legal deposit, gift/donation, subscription, photocopies, inter-library loan and weeding. It also states some problems associated with the collection development department as: relegation of the library to the background; poor numeration of the library staff; glory driven consciousness of the library staff; lack of required information resources and lack of financial resources. This paper pointed out some relevant impact that collection development department can accrue to any of the libraries practicing it. The study thus concluded by proffering some recommendations that will help to make the library and the collection development department vibrant

Response of planktonic bacteria of New Calabar River to zinc stress

Toxicity of Zn2+ on four planktonic bacteria isolated from New Calabar River water was assessed via dehydrogenase assay. Pure cultures of the bacterial strains were exposed to various Zn2+  concentrations (0.2 - 2.0 mM) in a nutrient broth amended with glucose and TTC. The responses of the bacterial strains to Zn2+ is concentration-dependent. At 0.2 mM, Zn2+ stimulated dehydrogenase activity in Proteus sp. PLK2 and Micrococcus sp. PLK4. In all strains, dehydrogenase activity was progressively inhibited at concentrations greater than 0.2 mM. The IC50 ranges from 0.236 ± 0.044 to 0.864 ± 0.138 mM. Total inhibition occurred at concentrations ranging from 1.283 ± 0.068 to 2.469 ± 0.045 mM. The order of zinc tolerance is: Micrococcus sp. PLK4 > Proteus sp. PLK2 > Pseudomonas sp. PLK5 > Escherichia sp. PLK1. The result of the in vitro study indicated that the bacterial strains are sensitive to Zn2+ stress. Therefore, Zn2+ contamination would pose serious threat to their metabolism in natural environments.Key words: New Calabar River, zinc toxicity, planktonic bacteria, dehydrogenase

Assessment of the Implications of Coal Post-mining Impact on Surface Water at Abandoned Okpara mine in Enugu State

This study examines the coal post-mining impact on surface water at abandoned Okpara mine in Enugu State. Experimental research design was adopted to test the water quality. The water samples were collected and analysed to determine the level of pollution. Hhypotheses were tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the treatment means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). The result of the test of hypothesis one shows that there is no significant difference in the parameters of the water samples within months. For all the parameters, α-significant at P≤0.05 fall within .207 and .995. DMRT shows that with the exception of temperature, that there is significant difference in other parameters of the water samples collected at different stations. For the parameters, alpha (α) is significant at P≤0.05. The result also shows that with the exception of Lead (Pb), that there is significant difference (p≤0.05) in the heavy metals found in the water samples collected at different stations. The total viable count (TVC) of the bacteria Pseudomonas aurogenosa and Bacillus substilis were 9.0×103cfu/ml and 1.2×104cfu/ml for the month of July, while in the month of August it was 9.0×103cfu/ml and 1.3×104cfu/ml respectively. The study concludes that the abandoned coal mine sites contribute to the type of microorganisms found in the water and concentration of heavy metals present in the water samples as well as other physicochemical parameters/indicators of water quality. Keywords: Coal post-mining, Water quality, Microbial load, Pollution, Trace metals DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-4-08 Publication date: April 30th 202

Implications of Equity Capital Financing on Corporate Financial Performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

This study examines the implications of equity capital financing on the corporate financial performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria, as such, 14 banks listed on Nigerian Stock Exchange for a period of 11 years (2006-2016) was selected. The data used is secondary in nature; extracted from the Annual Reports and Accounts of the various Banks and employed ex-post facto research design, and Pooled Ordinary Least Square Method in the analysis. It made use of panel data structure and the data was analysed with E-View package (version 13). Also, the P and T values assisted in the analysis of both magnitude and direction of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. It also revealed that both ROE AND EVA has a positive effect on the corporate financial performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The study concludes that Equity financing has positive effect on corporate financial performance of Deposit Money Bank in Nigeria; therefore, Increasing this variable will bring a positive effect on the corporate financial performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. It recommends that the implications of scheduling banks capital into equity financing, short-term debt and long-term debt by managers should be closely supervised and monitored by both shareholders and bondholders’ so as to avoid the company adding negative value to them who are contributors of finance. Keywords: Return on Equity, Deposit Money Banks, Economic Value Added, Equity Capital Financing DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-12-11 Publication date:June 30th 201

Women empowerment and participation in economic activities: Indispensable tools for self-reliance and development of Nigerian society

The objective of the study was to examine women empowerment and participation in economic activities as tools for self-reliance and development of the Nigerian society. Research questions and hypothesis were used to guide the study. Structured questionnaire was used as the major instrument for data collection. Copies of questionnaires were administered to 402 women randomly selected from 6 out of the 21 local government Areas of Anambra State. 351 copies of questionnaire recovered were analyzed using mean to answer the research questions and t-test statistic to draw inferences about the hypothesis. The results showed that: farming, trading, craft, food processing, hair dressing, poultry and the likes were the major economic activities performed by women in Anambra state. Personal savings, family assistance, philanthropist's assistance, loans and credits, cooperative society assistance, group contributions, were the sources of fund available to the women for their economic activities. Education and health promotion, food supply and distribution, were some of the services rendered by the women that bring about societal development. Inability of government to provide support, corruption on the part of implementers, family burden, cultural restrictions, husband influence, illiteracy were the obstacles women encounter in carrying out their economic activities. Provision of sustainable land tenure system, provision of soft loans and credits, training programmes, funding, establishment of cooperative societies, were some of the strategies proffered to enhance women participation in economic activities